Genesis 25:23

Gen. 25:23 [Samaritan Pentateuch]

ויאמר יהוה לה שני גוים בבטנך ושני לאמים ממעיך יפרדו ולאם מלאם יאמץ ורב יעבד צעיר

Gen. 25:23 [Masoretic Text]

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה לָ֗הּ שְׁנֵ֤י גיים בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ וּשְׁנֵ֣י לְאֻמִּ֔ים מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ וּלְאֹם֙ מִלְאֹ֣ם יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ וְרַ֖ב יַעֲבֹ֥ד צָעִֽיר׃

And YHWH said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples will be separated from within you. One people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.”

Morphology

1. וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (Vayomer) – Root: אמר (ʾ-m-r); Form: Qal, wayyiqtol (past narrative), 3ms; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Refers to the LORD addressing Rivqa.
2. יְהוָ֜ה (YHWH) – Root: יהוה (YHWH); Form: Proper noun; Translation: “The LORD”; Notes: The divine name indicating the speaker.
3. לָ֗הּ (Lah) – Root: None; Form: Preposition + 3fs suffix; Translation: “To her”; Notes: Indicates the recipient of the LORD’s speech.
4. שְׁנֵ֤י (Shenei) – Root: שְׁנַיִם (sh-n-y-m); Form: Cardinal number, dual, construct; Translation: “Two”; Notes: Refers to the two entities in Rivqa’s womb.
5. גיים (Goyim) – Root: גוֹי (goy); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “Nations”; Notes: Indicates the scope of the prophecy about Rivqa’s offspring.
6. בְּבִטְנֵ֔ךְ (Bevitnekh) – Root: בטן (b-t-n); Form: Noun, fs construct with 2fs suffix; Translation: “In your womb”; Notes: Refers to Rivqa’s physical state.
7. וּשְׁנֵ֣י (Ushenei) – Root: שְׁנַיִם (sh-n-y-m); Form: Cardinal number, dual, construct; Translation: “And two”; Notes: Introduces the second pair of entities.
8. לְאֻמִּ֔ים (Leummim) – Root: לְאֻם (l-ʾ-m); Form: Noun, mp; Translation: “Peoples”; Notes: Parallel to “nations,” emphasizing division.
9. מִמֵּעַ֖יִךְ (Mimeʿayikh) – Root: מֵעֶה (m-ʿ-h); Form: Noun, mp construct with 2fs suffix; Translation: “From within you”; Notes: Refers to the origin of the nations.
10. יִפָּרֵ֑דוּ (Yipparedu) – Root: פרד (p-r-d); Form: Niphal, imperfect, 3mp; Translation: “Will be separated”; Notes: Indicates a future division.
11. וּלְאֹם֙ (Uleʾom) – Root: לְאֻם (l-ʾ-m); Form: Noun, ms; Translation: “And one people”; Notes: Describes a comparison.
12. מִלְאֹ֣ם (Milʾom) – Root: לְאֻם (l-ʾ-m); Form: Noun, ms; Translation: “Than another people”; Notes: Highlights the contrast.
13. יֶֽאֱמָ֔ץ (Yeʾemats) – Root: אמץ (ʾ-m-ts); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3ms; Translation: “Will be stronger”; Notes: Describes the dominance of one nation.
14. וְרַ֖ב (Verav) – Root: רב (r-v); Form: Adjective, ms; Translation: “And the older”; Notes: Indicates the elder of the two children.
15. יַעֲבֹ֥ד (Yaʿavod) – Root: עבד (ʿ-v-d); Form: Qal, imperfect, 3ms; Translation: “Will serve”; Notes: Prophesies subservience.
16. צָעִֽיר (Tsaʿir) – Root: צעיר (ts-ʿ-y-r); Form: Adjective, ms; Translation: “The younger”; Notes: Identifies the one who will be served.